Dodge Circuit EV at the Chicago Auto Show

Cars Mania Blog

Auto Car | Dodge Circuit EV at the Chicago Auto Show | The Dodge Circuit EV was actually introduced in summer 2008 as the Dodge EV, sans the Circuit. This time, the EV loses its yellow paint job for a fancy tangerine color, and gets a more identifiable version of the Dodge crosshair grille. Underneath, the EV is unchanged, which is not to say uninteresting. The Circuit EV is completely powered by lithium-ion batteries connected to a 200kW (or 268-hp) electric motor. Plug it in, charge it up, and take a 150-200 mile trip. 

 

Performance seems promising as well, with a quarter-mile in less than 13 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph. When you look at the Circuit EV, it is easy to mistake it for a Lotus. That’s because it basically has Lotus skin and bones. The idea is similar to the Lotus-based Tesla electric car, but Chrysler certainly has a better dealer base and more engineering resources to make this work. You can still buy a Tesla now; it may take another year or two for the Circuit EV to make it to the showrooms.

Looking to compete with Tesla, Dodge has also gone the Lotus route and electrified the Europa. Zero to sixty is under five seconds and the total range is a respectable 150 miles. Storage is nil, but at $85,000 this is no one’s only car. As the same powertrain is spread across multiple variants, expect to see a price drop within a few short years.

Pros: Excellent acceleration, Lotus handling
Cons: 600 lb battery throws it off balance
Status: Prototype testing
Verdict: Buy a Circuit and a hauler for the price of a Tesla roadster

(www.pricedigests.com)